Gay Groups Call On Tucker, MSNBC To Apologize For Assault Remarks

Two major gay rights groups -- the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network -- have released statements condemning remarks by MSNBC's Tucker Carlson about assaulting a man who "bothered" him in a men's room.

From GLAAD:

GLAAD Calls on Tucker Carlson, MSNBC to Apologize for Insensitive Remarks Condoning Violence

August 29, 2007

New York, Wednesday, August 29 - The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) today called on Tucker Carlson, NBC News and MSNBC to apologize for remarks made on Tuesday night that appear to condone violent assault.

On the Tuesday, Aug. 28 edition of "MSNBC Live with Dan Abrams" MSNBC host Tucker Carlson referenced an incident from his past when he was the recipient of an unwanted advance from another man. Carlson told program host (and MSNBC General Manager) Dan Abrams and fellow MSNBC host Joe Scarborough that after being "bothered" by a man in a restroom in a Washington, D.C., mall, Carlson returned "with someone [he] knew and grabbed the guy... and hit him against the stall with his head, actually. And then the cops came and arrested him." Abrams and Scarborough are seen chuckling throughout Carlson's telling of the story.

Earlier today, GLAAD called Abrams' office to discuss NBC News and MSNBC's response to Carlson's behavior. Abrams' office responded with an e-mailed statement attributed to Carlson, which read:

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Let me be clear about an incident I referred to on MSNBC last night: In the mid-1980s, while I was a high school student, a man physically grabbed me in a men's room in Washington, DC. I yelled, pulled away from him and ran out of the room. Twenty-five minutes later, a friend of mine and I returned to the men's room. The man was still there, presumably waiting to do to someone else what he had done to me. My friend and I seized the man and held him until a security guard arrived.

Several bloggers have characterized this is a sort of gay bashing. That's absurd, and an insult to anybody who has fought back against an unsolicited sexual attack. I wasn't angry with the man because he was gay. I was angry because he assaulted me.

The statement is not only a failed attempt to justify Carlson's advocacy of violence, but also changes key details of the previous night's on-air story. First, Carlson does not repeat his assertion that he "hit him against the stall with his head," instead changing his story to say that he "seized the man and held him down until a security guard arrived." The security guard element is also newly invented. In his on-air statement, Carlson said that "the cops came and arrested him."

"Carlson's story was difficult to watch on two levels," said GLAAD Senior Director of Media Programs Rashad Robinson. "To see someone brag on national television of returning, with an accomplice, to the scene of an unwanted advance to violently attack the person who made it is incredibly disturbing. But it was also hard to watch because of the sheer absurdity of most of what Carlson was saying."

"Whether Abrams and Scarborough were laughing with Carlson or laughing at him, the fact remains that MSNBC and NBC News have some explaining to do about their standards and practices," Robinson said. "They need to explain whether bragging about physically assaulting a man in response to an unwanted advance is appropriate on-air behavior for one of their employees, and whether laughter by two others is an appropriate on-air response."

PLEASE CONTACT NBC NEWS AND MSNBC TODAY. Ask Tucker Carlson to apologize and ask NBC News and MSNBC if Carlson's on-air comments are reflective of their network's standards and practices.

Allison Gollust

Senior Vice President of Communications, NBC News

[e-mail]

212.664.3220

Jeremy Gaines

Vice President of Communications, MSNBC

[e-mail]

201.583.5000

Leslie Schwartz

Director of Media Relations, MSNBC

[e-mail]

201.583.5000

Tucker Carlson

Host, "Tucker"

[e-mail]

201.583.5000

From GLSEN:

GLSEN Outraged by MSNBC Host Tucker Carlson's Comments About Assaulting Gay Man

GLSEN, or the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is outraged and horrified by MSNBC host Tucker Carlson's revelation Tuesday night insinuating that as a high school student he once assaulted a man for a perceived sexual advance. GLSEN is calling on Carlson to issue an apology and disavow violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people as reprehensible and unacceptable.

"Tucker Carlson's casual acknowledgment perpetrating such a violent act is shocking and sends a dangerous message to youth that physical assault based on actual or perceived sexual orientation is acceptable," said GLSEN Deputy Executive Director Eliza Byard. "Countless lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth are bullied, harassed and assaulted at school every day. MSNBC and Carlson need to make it clear that violence in this case was an unacceptable reaction."

More than a third of LGBT students (37.8%) reported being physically harassed (being pushed, shoved, etc.) at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation in GLSEN's 2005 National School Climate Survey. Additionally, 17.6% of LGBT students reported being physically assaulted (punched, kicked or injured with a weapon) in school in the past year because of their sexual orientation.

To watch the clip of Carlson's comments or learn more about the incident and others like it, visit Media Matters for America at www.mediamatters.org.

About GLSEN GLSEN, or the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. Established nationally in 1995, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. For more information on GLSEN's educational resources, public policy agenda, student organizing programs or development initiatives, visit www.glsen.org.

Comments

[Issak]

About time this little turd come out, noh?

[MAC2]

If one dances while one is setting in a chair he must be a bad ass. And if TUCKER says it so it must be sooooooooooooooo much BS.

Damn Idaho machine is running crazy sorry, I am not gay nor have I ever been gay. I am not gay nor have I ever been gay. I am not gay nor have I ever been gay. I am not gay nor have I ever been gay. I am not gay nor have I ever been gay.

Pull the plug please.

[skeptique]

He doth protest too much me thinks.

[pzdoff]

Who's next? How about Arnold Schwarzenegger. "Yaah, I beat up a queeaaah one time tooooo. These repugs are bad asses, you know.

[Disturbed2]

Tucker is a typical RWing Asshole. He tells a BS story then when he is taken to task on it he changes it to make himself appear better. The 2nd story is as bogus as the 1st one. I hope someone investigates his story. If this actually happened it would be in a police report.

[gopSTEALSyourTAXmoney]

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if this story is totally fabricated. He is just another queer trying to hide his sexuality and self-loathing in the Republican Party. These Republicans are truly the scum of the earth. Pathetic.

[WigWamWag]

Since when does the openion of some warped perverts amount up to more than verbal cow chips?

Maybe that complaining group of deviants needs to stop looking for / demanding social acceptance and start looking for medical help for their very bad tasteless immoral behavior.

[barrycourage]

I love you too, sweety.

Especially when you rim me.

Your tongue is the best thing I have ever had up my bum.

And rimming me is the best thing you have ever done with your tongue.

Ever.

[pizzmoe]

Carlson is an idiot

[Mykel]

Everyone repeat after me:

HOMOPHOBES ARE CLOSETED HOMOSEXUALS.

Now, add to this fact the idea that the warmongering and insatiable greed of homophobic Republicans is a direct result of their inability to openly admit their sexual desire for others of their gender, leading them to attempt to placate their desire with materialism, rage, violence.

It also quite nicely explains their sexism against women.

Can you imagine if this became a talking point of the Democrats in every single race from here to eternity?

There wouldn't be a Republican left standing in the rubble of their collapsed party!

[JohnJames]

Tucker is always the first to say that hypocritical politicians, who just happen to be Republican, should be left alone, even if they're gay homophobes, well as long as they're homophobes, I should say. But he never seems to have a problem with Republicans winning elections by slandering gay people and their lives.

[Stanley]

Now wait a minute ... are you all defending the bathroom perv or just hating Tucker. He was a highschool kid for crying out loud. He went back and faced his assailant who was still in the bathroom. We can all assume it wasn't because of constipation. He tells this story and he is now supposedly promoting gay bashing? C'mon!

If there is going to be progress in human relations pick a better fight than this one. Don't be a hater or you'll just continue being hated.

[JohnJames]

Fat kids with big red hair aren't usually a turn-on whether you're gay or straight.

[Ramirez]

Maybe the guy LIKED fat teenagers with red hair.

[barrycourage]

"He went back and faced his assailant who was still in the bathroom."

Last night you pestered your wife for sex. She asserted her "no." When she "faced" you in the morning, did she grab you by the hair and bang your head on the floor?

Carlson supposedly has common sense. If this assailant were truly a threat, why would he go back at all? He knew it was a matter for the police. He knew the best thing would be to contact them and let them take care of it.

Instead he chose to get a friend and gay bash.

And he relays the story like there was nothing wrong with violent retribution.

Sounds like promoting gay bashing to me.

[JimHinCO]

Did this guy just admit he couldn't beat up a homosexual alone and think it was bragging? :)

[Ramirez]

Maybe it was a BIG homosexual. Tucker was only 15.

[barrycourage]

I don't recall Carlson stating his age.

[zull]

It's a little peculiar that Carlson states that only "several bloggers" thought it was condoning hate crime. If it were only several bloggers, he wouldn't have even bothered to respond.

I mean, what kind of narcissistic twit would respond to each and every blog that called him out? Oh. Wait, this is Tucker Carlson we're talking about here.

[957]

Why is it anytime anyone says anything about gays or lesbo's they call for his head, he says stuff about straight people all the time and you won't hear us crying about it.

[Rrhain]

When he makes assinine comments about straight people, he isn't focusing on their heterosexuality. If you can find me an example of him denigrating somebody specifically because of his heterosexuality, then you might have a point.

[JohnJames]

Exactly.

[noamjunior]

I dont think you can use "straight people " and "us" in the same sentence

[barrycourage]

Even if he said, "Hey gang! Get your guns. It's open season on heterosexuals!"

[mphalen]

Why is this guy on the air anyway? He has no talent and is more stupid than mud. It is probably a case of nepotism or lil' Tucker is good at the Lewinsky. My guess is the later.

[noamjunior]

if you can spew noxious bullshit aimed at liberals, it isn't that hard to get on TV